Producing Oil and Gas out of Algae in 20 Minutes

Inspired by the production of oil under the ground, a group of researchers from the Rasht Branch of Islamic Azad University invented a device that is capable of producing oil and gas from algae within 20 minutes.

In an interview with ISNA, as translated by IFP, Fereshteh Ghorbani, a researcher in the project of turning algae into petroleum, said that they began oil production by cultivating algae in several ponds.

Ghorbani and her team used to dry up the cultivated algae with the aim of making algae power for selling; however, after conducting an extensive amount of studies, they took the initiative to turn algae into petroleum using a particular device.

“First, the device produces crude oil and then turns it into lamp oil, which is quite similar to natural oil,” she noted, adding that they have kicked off the semi-industrial production of the oil.

According to her, the natural mechanism of oil production under the ground has been applied in the device.

Ghorbani drew an analogy between the performance of the device and the mechanism of oil production under the ground and said, “It turns algae into petroleum under high pressure and temperature as well.”

She further added that the process of oil production in the device takes 20 minutes.

“Flammability of the output oil is as high as that of natural oil.”

This project, which is headed by Dr. Abu-Ali Golzari, was presented in Iran’s Tech-Bazaar.